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If you ask him: "What is silence?" he will answer, "It is the Great Mystery! The holy silence is His voice!" If you ask: "What are the fruits of silence?" he will say: "They are self-control, true courage or endurance, patience, dignity, and reverence. Silence is the cornerstone of character."
Charles Alexander Eastman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Silence holds profound significance, fostering self-control, courage, and dignity.

This quote emphasizes the importance of silence in personal development and character building. It suggests that silence is not merely the absence of sound but a meaningful state that leads to various virtues such as self-control, patience, and reverence, highlighting it as a foundational element of strong character.

Themes

SilenceWisdomCharacterSelf-ControlCouragePatience

In practice

Example use cases

During a meditation workshop to emphasize the power of silence.

More from Charles Alexander Eastman

The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury... Furthermore, it was the rule of his life to share the fruits of his skill and success with his less fortunate brothers. Thus he kept his spirit free from the clog of pride, cupidity, or envy, and carried out, as he believed, the divine decree-a matter profoundly important to him.
Charles Alexander EastmanRead

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A little wisdom, now and then

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